2004 Saab 9-3 Linear. ECU Not Programmed!

7214 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by aerojon, 15 d ago

LeoSAAB

Discussion Starter · Feb 15, 2013 (Edited)

I just purchased a 2004 9-3 Linear 5 Speed transmission that has a ton of electronic faults. The car is throwing the P0641 5 volt circuit open code. Car has HID lights.
Here is the list:
ECU Not Programmed
Reduced Engine Power
Air Bag Malfunction
Time for Service
I do not know the history of the car. I did not get screwed on this deal, I bought the car at a very reasonable price knowing that it needs some work and I have room to spend some money to fix it. The body and interior of the car are in great shape! The power train is in working order. The engine sounds beautiful with no leaks and the Manual transmission shifts perfectly! I figure I can get these electric/electronic bugs eventually under control with some research and small investments. I plan on keeping this car for many years to come and I have no problem spending 600$ for a Tech2 that's proven to work! Many chinese clones are available on Ebay!! But I hate to waste that much money on a known fake product that may or may not work!
What does programming the ECU consist of (disconnected and reconnected the battery nothing)? The car is extremely slow in first gear, then it starts to drive somewhat normal in second, third... Is there any mechanical fix to get out of Limp Home Mode until I get my hands on a scanner? There are many guys on my local craigslist that offer Tech2 service, but I'm not ready to go there yet! I only had the car for a week and still learning this car's attitude. Yeah, having no radio or sound too is becoming a headache and weird when I get in this car. I'm bumping that up in my priority list. I did some troubleshooting and found that there is no red light on the fiber optic to AMP1 with the key on. Is it the EHU? The CD player can eject but can't swallow CD's I have to force it in! So, I'm thinking you need power to eject a CD!! Temp reading in SID is blank and another weird item is that one or both of the cooling fans come on 10 seconds after I start the car and it/they stay running constantly. It's in the mid thirties here in Jersey. I Don't know if it's the Condenser fan or the Radiator fan. Air bag warning is on/ "Time for Service" warning always waves goodbye to me when I turn the car off.
Any thoughts?

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chifanpoe

· #2 · Feb 15, 2013

If your ECU is faulty here is what I recently went through:

My original 2004 Arc ECU was shutting my car down until I pulled the neg battery cable or reset the ECU by pulling fuses. This worked for a few miles then would shut the car down again. Sometimes I would get a P0601 error. After doing this 8-9 times I had to find a fix.

I found a wrecked 9-3 and pulled the T8 from it and then shipped both ECU to Casey at Brew City Boost. He was able to pull my programing from my failing ECU and put it on the other ECU and then update it to Stage 2.

My car is now working perfectly and much much faster

Not sure if this will help, but if it is a bad or corrupt ECU this is a pretty inexpensive fix and will make your car much more fun to drive.

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chifanpoe

· #3 · Feb 15, 2013

I believe there is a Engine ECU and a "Body" ECU. The body one controls things like your radio, seat heaters and ect..

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stamonkey

· #4 · Feb 15, 2013

chifanpoe said:
I believe there is a Engine ECU and a "Body" ECU. The body one controls things like your radio, seat heaters and ect..

Not to change the subject, but do I see you pass by me almost every day on Highway 3 in between Alton and Edwardsville? Its a silver Arc, that I see almost every afternoon. Most days I'm in my silver Saturn Ion commuter car, but if you see a parchment silver '06 Aero with gunmetal wheels, give me wave!

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chifanpoe

· #5 · Feb 15, 2013

stamonkey said:
Not to change the subject, but do I see you pass by me almost every day on Highway 3 in between Alton and Edwardsville? Its a silver Arc, that I see almost every afternoon. Most days I'm in my silver Saturn Ion commuter car, but if you see a parchment silver '06 Aero with gunmetal wheels, give me wave!

That would be me, you can tell by my Chicago Bears plates or the smell of my badly slipping Clutch/Pressure Plate

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stamonkey

· #6 · Feb 15, 2013

chifanpoe said:
That would be me, you can tell by my Chicago Bears plates or the smell of my badly slipping Clutch/Pressure Plate

Small world! I'm heading the opposite way as you, but I'll keep my nose out for clutch smell.

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chifanpoe

· #7 · Feb 15, 2013

stamonkey said:
Small world! I'm heading the opposite way as you, but I'll keep my nose out for clutch smell.

Hopefully next week I should have a new EURO Spec solid flywheel and Cobalt SS Clutch kit here. Ecotech in St Louis is going to swap it out for me. If you have ever been there they are a bunch of good guys that know Saabs.

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j.malshi

· #8 · Feb 24, 2020

chifanpoe said:
I believe there is a Engine ECU and a "Body" ECU. The body one controls things like your radio, seat heaters and ect..

Hi
I had this massage but not any more . But as I can understand from your reply it can effect the radio , because the radio doesn’t receive any Chanel bothe band AM/FM ... CD work perfectly.

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Banshee

· #9 · 15 d ago

Hi guys 😉 I know this is an old thread and I hate to hijack it... But would either of you happen to know someone in our area with a Tech II?

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aerojon

· #10 · 15 d ago

Banshee said:
Hi guys 😉 I know this is an old thread and I hate to hijack it... But would either of you happen to know someone in our area with a Tech II?

@Banshee Pls start a new thread on your issue,this tread was started 10yrs ago..

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